Ron Barassi
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Ronald Dale Barassi was an Australian rules footballer, coach and media personality. Regarded as one of the greatest and most important figures in the history of the game, Barassi was the first player
Barassi (right) and Footscray's Ted Whitten during a 1954 match
Statue of Barassi at the Parade of Champions, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Barassi bust unveiled at Guildford in 2016 for his 80th birthday
Father–son rule
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The father–son rule is a rule that allows clubs preferential recruiting access to the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the club in Australian rules football, most notably in
Ron Barassi
…was determined to follow in his father's footsteps at Melbourne, and heavy lobbying by the club to recruit him resulted in the introduction of the father–son rule, still in use by the AFL today. Barassi subsequently lived with Norm Smith, Melbourne's then-coach and a former teammate of his father. Under Smith's…
Dustin Fletcher, the son of Ken Fletcher, has played the most games of any father–son selection, with 400 AFL matches played
Brett Ebert was eligible to be selected as a father–son selection by Port Adelaide, as his father, Russell Ebert, played over 200 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL
Abbie McKay, the daughter of Andrew McKay, was the first player to be selected under the father–daughter rule